Let’s go back in time… to the early seventies, and the introduction of Pong, the first video game. Though it was quite basic, it hailed the beginning of a new era, one which would almost push my favorite game into the halls of gaming history. I’m talking about pinball.
Fortunately, pinball… though largely an afterthought for a few decades, survived. And now? The comeback is complete. Not unlike how turntables have been resurrected, pinball is back, and former wizards are enjoying the game once again.
“Ever since I was a young boy, I played the silver ball.” In fact, I recall a game at the Smoke Shop… the place where we hung out after school, called Miss Annabelle. While today’s games typically cost a buck a game, Miss Annabelle was just a nickel. So yeah… I’ve got some history. C’mon. The place was called the Smoke Shop!
An Organized Effort
And though I don’t play as much as I used to, I was heartened to learn of a local effort to bring pinball back to the fore. Afficionado Bryan Fisher, seen above, has turned his love of the game into a plan of action with a schedule of tournaments open to pinball wizards of every skill level.
By day, Fisher is a Staff Representative for the United Steelworkers Union. Off the clock, he’s the self-appointed Tournament Director for the Tilted North Pinball Tournaments at Ore Dock Brewing. And he’s a heck of a pinball player. “I’ve played in tournaments for around 7 years, and even made the Michigan State Pinball Finals 5 years ago.”
But don’t let one guy’s prowess discourage you from joining the competition. “I look forward to seeing any and all pinball players to show up, have a good time, and meet other pinball fans. I’ve always found playing tournaments is a great way to meet new friends and just have fun.”
Pick Your Spots
As opposed to a league, the tournament format allows players to pick and choose when they want to play. And just so you know your flipping won’t be in vain, each tourney will be sanctioned by the International Flipper Pinball Association.
Interested? This Sunday Fisher will host a warm-up tourney at the Ore Dock at 6pm. After that? “The plan is to have a regular tournament every other Sunday at 6pm until about 9 or 10,” Fisher says. “Due to construction at the Ore Dock the first week of January, we will not be holding the next tournament until January 18, then every other week from then on.”
Though there are a few other machines around town, the Ore Dock’s four games are enough to facilitate a tourney of the first 16 players who show up. Mike Schultz of Superior Summit Arcade, along with company founder Ian Thorley, are responsible for the machines, with hopefully more on the way.
“I was always skeptical about the amount of people that really play pinball. Turns out I was wrong about that,” Schultz admits. “Based on how the pinball machines are performing, I think it is an overlooked hobby, and I believe it will continue to grow in the area, especially with the Tilted North Pinball Tournaments at Ore Dock.”
All Are Welcome!
It doesn’t cost much. Just a $1 registration fee and the cost of the games. (Not a nickel.) And once you’re registered with the IFPA, you’ll be able to track your results, and how you stack up against players worldwide.
From Soho down to Brighton, I must’ve played ‘em all. Now it’s on to the Ore Dock, to see just how much of a pinball wizard you are.
From Pong to Virtual Reality
Even though pinball is back on our radar, it will never displace the games which evolved from the beginnings of Pong. And the 2d games of yesterday have been complemented by the 3d experience of virtual reality.
Rob Shirlin is the owner of Edge of Reality VR Arcade at 333 W. Washington, a virtual reality game room with roots far from what it has become. Shirlin’s enterprise started out as a ground-breaking virtual reality brain training program created by local Cognitive Neuroscientist Dr. Jeff Nyquist.
According to Shirlin, “As we worked to get mainstream insurance companies to help with treatments cost, people started coming in to ask us about Virtual Reality equipment and if we offered gaming. At that time we did not, but we soon made a leap to start a pop-up style arcade to help with our revenue.”
360 Degrees of… Whatever You Want
And now? “Virtual Reality is very diverse and has practical applications for most everyone,” Shirlin explains. “The purpose of Virtual Reality is to create immersive, simulated experiences for training, therapy, education, design, and entertainment by tricking the brain into feeling present in a digital world.”
Ah… it’s trickery, huh? Well, whatever it is, it works. After I donned the headset for my supervised demo, I can tell you… it’s pretty cool. And it felt darn real.
“Virtual Reality offers the ability to experience new things in an immersive interactive way done in a safe environment,” says Shirlin. “Imaginative gaming, professional trainings, health and wellness, therapy, rehabilitation, tourism, and more, essentially making the impossible, impractical, or dangerous accessible.”
Fees are based on the length of your station rental. And you can go by yourself, or bring a group for your own arcade party. For more info, visit the Edge of Reality website.
From the tactile touch of pinball, to the 3d world of virtual reality, these are the games people play. You in?